DRI Plant Commissioning Manager

The DRI (Direct Reduced Iron) Plant Commissioning Manager will lead all commissioning activities for a new-build DRI plant within the Stegra Hydrogen to Green Steel Project. The role will manage commissioning from construction completion through cold and hot commissioning to steady-state operations.

The successful candidate will provide strong technical and field leadership, ensuring plant systems are safely commissioned, operationally ready and compliant with design, quality and performance requirements.

Key Responsibilities

Commissioning Planning & Coordination

• Develop and execute the DRI plant commissioning plan, including schedules, resources and budget requirements.
• Coordinate project teams, contractors, suppliers and vendors to align commissioning activities with overall project milestones.
• Manage commissioning priorities, interfaces, dependencies and readiness across plant systems.

Team Leadership

• Lead multidisciplinary commissioning engineers and technicians throughout cold and hot commissioning.
• Allocate responsibilities, provide technical guidance and promote a collaborative, safety-focused and performance-driven environment.

System Testing & Validation

• Oversee cold and hot commissioning of mechanical, electrical, instrumentation, automation, control and process systems.
• Ensure systems are tested and validated against design specifications, operational requirements and performance criteria.
• Verify system readiness and support progression through commissioning stages towards plant start-up and stable operation.

Troubleshooting & Technical Support

• Lead identification and resolution of technical and operational issues arising during commissioning.
• Apply engineering expertise and structured troubleshooting to minimise operational risk and commissioning delays.
• Coordinate technical support from engineering teams, contractors, OEMs and equipment suppliers where required.

Documentation & Reporting

• Ensure commissioning tests, procedures, adjustments, results and system status are accurately documented.
• Provide regular progress reports highlighting commissioning status, constraints, risks and corrective actions.
• Maintain accurate and auditable commissioning documentation supporting system acceptance and handover.

Safety Management

• Enforce project HSSE requirements and safe working practices throughout commissioning.
• Support risk assessments and ensure appropriate controls and procedures are established before commissioning activities.
• Promote a strong safety culture across project, contractor and vendor teams.

Quality Assurance & Control

• Work with QA/QC teams to ensure commissioning activities and results comply with project specifications, standards and operational requirements.
• Implement appropriate quality controls throughout commissioning and ensure deficiencies are identified and resolved.

Vendor & Contractor Coordination

• Coordinate equipment suppliers, contractors and OEMs during installation, inspection, testing, adjustment and commissioning.
• Ensure vendor requirements, technical support, documentation and training are completed in line with commissioning priorities.
• Facilitate effective transfer of equipment and systems from vendors and project teams to operations.

Handover & Operational Readiness

• Manage plant and system handover to operations, ensuring systems are functional, validated and supported by required documentation.
• Ensure operations personnel receive the necessary technical information and training for safe plant operation.
• Provide post-commissioning support during ramp-up and transition to steady-state operations.

Performance & Optimisation

• Monitor plant performance following commissioning and identify opportunities to improve reliability, efficiency and productivity.
• Recommend and coordinate adjustments required to achieve safe and stable plant performance.

Required Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering or a related discipline, or equivalent professional experience.
• Minimum 10 years' plant commissioning experience, preferably within the steel or DRI industry.
• Proven experience managing large-scale industrial commissioning projects.
• Strong experience across construction completion, systemisation, cold commissioning, hot commissioning, start-up and operational handover.
• Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary commissioning teams, contractors, vendors and technical specialists.
• Strong understanding of industrial safety, quality assurance and commissioning requirements.

Technical Skills

• Strong knowledge of DRI and steel plant systems, including mechanical, electrical, automation, instrumentation, process control and systemisation.
• Excellent troubleshooting, analytical and problem-solving capability.
• Strong project planning, scheduling, resource and commissioning management skills.
• Experience with tools such as Primavera, Completions Management Systems and Microsoft Project.
• Strong written and verbal communication with the ability to work effectively across engineering, construction, operations, contractors and suppliers.
• Proven experience implementing HSSE requirements within industrial commissioning environments.
• Strong understanding of QA/QC processes and project specifications.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgy or a related discipline.
• Project management or commissioning certification such as PMP, CCST or ISA certification.
• Experience with hydrogen-based DRI, green steel or sustainable industrial manufacturing.
• Experience supporting complex green-energy or industrial transformation projects.
• Understanding of DRI-specific commissioning and operational challenges.
• Swedish language skills are advantageous but not essential.